I am pleased to send you my Session Wrap Up e-newsletter. This
e-newsletter features events and legislative activities from the session week of
June 1, 2015.

If you find this e-newsletter useful, I invite you to visit my website
www.senatorscotthutchinson.com for more information about your state
government. If you do not wish to receive these e-newsletters, please click the
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Sincerely,

Scott

Senate Approves Sustainable Forestry Resolution

On Wednesday, the Senate adopted a Resolution I introduced recognizing
Friday, June 5, 2015 as Sustainable Forestry Initiative Day in Pennsylvania.

For 20 years the Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative Implementation
Committee has met monthly in State College to encourage and promote efforts to
preserve the vitality of one of state’s greatest natural resources – that being
our forest areas.

Almost since its inception, the Committee has worked to establish a logger
training program and provide educational outreach to landowners and the public.
As a member of the Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council and as Chairman of
the Joint Conservation Committee, I support and appreciate these efforts.

Senate Approves Animal Cruelty Prevention Bills

The Senate approved a package of bills on Wednesday intended to help prevent
animal cruelty.

Senate Bill 78 targets kennel owners who lose their license due to
violations of the Dog Law. The legislation would prevent violators from
continuing to operate a kennel at the same location by having a license issued
to an immediate family member or another individual who resides at the same
address.

Senate Bill 294 addresses the enforcement and application of
Pennsylvania’s cruelty laws, particularly as they pertain to horses. It better
defines “torture” and provides appropriate penalties based on language drafted
with the assistance of the Farm Bureau. The bill also provides for the seizure
of animals in extreme instances of torture or cruelty.

Senate Bill 594 adds a section to Pennsylvania's Animal Cruelty Law
to specifically address when it happens in a domestic-violence situation. Under
the legislation, if a person with a protection-from-abuse order against them
commits animal cruelty against the pet of their spouse or partner, they would
face a minimum monetary fine of $2,000 and a maximum fine of $15,000.

Other bills approved by the Senate this week and sent to the House of
Representatives for consideration include:

Senate Bill 695, which requires lobbyists and
lobbying firms to register and file reports electronically through the
computerized system developed by the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Senate Bill 490, which includes the PEMA Director as a position
subject to review and confirmation by the Senate. Currently, the post is filled
by appointment by the Governor.

Committee Sends 911 Reauthorization Measure to Senate

The Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee unanimously
approved
House Bill 911, which would reauthorize the Emergency 9-1-1 System in
Pennsylvania, on Tuesday.

The current fee on wireless devices is set to expire on June 30, 2015, unless
the law is reauthorized. House Bill 911 would set the fee at $1.65 a month per
device. The bill was amended by the Committee to include:

*Establishing an advisory board consisting of public and nonpublic
stakeholders.

*Ensuring a higher percentage of funding is distributed to counties.

*Requiring PEMA to conduct a thorough audit and inventory of all county 911
centers and equipment.

*Requiring PEMA and the advisory board to study future methods of funding the
911 system.

*Establishing a county buy-in provision.

The changes were the result of the two hearings the Committee held on the
bill and input provided by a number of individuals and organizations.

The Committee also approved
Senate Bill 299, legislation that would allow municipalities to
provide tax credits to volunteer firefighters and nonprofit EMS providers, and
Senate Bill 370, legislation that allows volunteer fire companies
that merge and receive funds through the Fire and EMS Grant Program for up to
ten years.

House Bill 911 and Senate Bills 299 and 370 now go to the full Senate for
consideration.

Committee Approves Caps on Punitive Damages Against
Care Facilities

The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee approved legislation on Tuesday
that would place caps on punitive damages against personal care facilities.

The caps were amended into
Senate Bill 747, a bill that would require the state insurance
Commissioner to investigate the awarding of punitive damages in cases brought
within the health care industry over the past 10 years.

The amendment caps punitive damages in cases against personal care homes,
assisted living communities, long-term care nursing facilities and their
employees and officials at 200 percent of the compensatory damages awarded in a
lawsuit. This provision would be consistent with the cap currently placed on
punitive damages awarded against physicians.

The amendment was sparked by the actions of a Florida-based law firm that
placed ads in newspapers listing Pennsylvania care facilities that had been
cited for “violations.” The Pennsylvania Health Care Association has tracked 33
full-page advertisements attacking over 40 nursing facilities just since the
beginning of 2015. Resulting lawsuits from these ads drained more than $91
million from the state in 2013.